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Self-Protection, Routine Activities, and Victimization: Studying Arab Americans in Metro-Detroit

NCJ Number
255774
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 34 Issue: 6 Dated: 2019 Pages: 1030-1048
Author(s)
Yuning N. Wu; Charles. Klahm
Date Published
2019
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Since knowledge on Arab Americans' experience with criminal victimization remains limited and narrowly focused, the current study used face-to-face interview data collected from a random sample of residents in the Detroit metropolitan area to compare the prevalence and covariates of property and violent crime victimization between Arab and non-Arab Americans.
Abstract

The main finding was promising, since Arab and non-Arab American respondents reported similar victimization risks across six crime types. Less encouraging was that Arab Americans were significantly less likely than their counterparts to use self-protective measures, which were found to have a significant risk-reduction effect regarding property crime victimization. In addition, there was a significant, negative correlation between the likelihood of moving in the next 5 years and risk of victimization. Finally, regularly carrying a large amount of cash was associated with a higher risk of violent victimization for non-Arab Americans, but not Arab Americans. Implications for future research and policy are discussed. (publisher abstract modified)